Brigitte Bardot comes to Manila; Philippine-made rum invades France

SOFITEL Philippine Plaza is hosting the traveling exhibit of a stunning selection of photographs highlighting the legendary and original sex symbol of France, Brigitte Bardot.

 

Sofitel GM Adam Laker opened the exhibition “BB Forever – Brigitte Bardot, La Légende.” He explained it was “Sofitel’s desire to represent French elegance and culture across the world.”

 

“The exhibition,” he added, “reflects three of Sofitel’s pillars of French elegance—design and innovation, gastronomy and wine, and culture and events.”

 

Chef Eric Costille and his team prepared a lavish French spread, including the St. Tropez desserts and handmade pralines. Martini and St. Tropez cocktails poured from the ice sculpture resembling the physique of the sex icon.

 

The trés elegant 21-piece St. Tropez fashion collection showed Brigitte Bardot’s timeless style. The creations were by designer Albert Andrada and the models wore the colors of Lancôme’s new Hypnôse palette. L’Oréal Professionnel’s Philippe Tordjman recreated the beehive hairstyles Bardot was famous for.

 

The evening was perfect with music by top model and DJ Mia Ayesa.

 

The “BB Forever – Brigitte Bardot” exhibition was in partnership with Lancôme, L’Oréal Professionnel, Philippe Tordjman and Peugeot.

 

E-mail [email protected]; tel. 5515555

 

Draft Gastropub

 

Draft Gastropub has a new baby—the Draft Bar Pub, dahlings.

 

Draft Gastropub’s hotshot main men opened the club: Raj Sadhwani, Mitch Malli, Matthew Lim, Eric Cua, Stephen Ku, Manolet Dario, Marco Roces de Guzman, GP Reyes, Carlo Miguel and Ivan Zalameda.

 

“The inspiration to open Draft really came from wanting to serve and sell great draught beer here in the Philippines,” said Sadhwani. “We wanted to take our love for food and beer and spread it all over the country…”

 

Draft’s servings are well-conceived, generously proportioned, aside from dredging up familiar recollections.

 

Dubbed “comfort food” for the working set, chef Carlo Miguel’s preparations are a hearty mixture of English tavern recipes and contemporary cooking techniques.

 

Draft has 30 beer varieties to balance the menu’s medley of combinations.

 

“Draft offers a vibe that is refreshingly current,” said Matt Lim. “With each mouthful from a delightfully cool pint, tons of chats are drawn further into the perfect type of wistfulness, one that begs the creation of new and even better experiences.”

 

Moi ain’t a beer drinker, but I must say I enjoyed the two different brands of the foamy, palanggas.

 

Don Papa Rum now in France

 

Don Papa Rum, the premium single island rum distilled in my beloved Negros, celebrated its first anniversary with a week of fun events around town.

 

First off was the arrival of French mixologist Matthias Cadeac D’Arbaud, founder and owner of the hip and happening Bar Zelda in Paris, and actually the first bar in France to stock Don Papa Rum.

 

The brand hosted an intimate event in Las Flores where Matthias shared trends on the global cocktail culture. He came up with his own creations using Don Papa Rum.

 

Don Papa Rum founder Stephen Carroll, GM Andrew Garcia and brand manager Monica Llamas were all très visible, dahlings, sharing the good news that, following its launch last year, the brand is now in overseas markets starting with France, no less.

 

Dinner at Aracama followed, where Don Papa Rum’s signature cocktails were served. The brand also hosted a gathering at Long Bar’s Rum and Cigar Night for supporters and friends. Cadeac D’Arbaud was behind the bar to make his variations on classic cocktails.

 

Finally, the week was capped with a bash at Rocket Room with flowing Don Papa Rum, enjoyed neat or in cocktails. The celebration packed in the young and young at heart, and gained new fans for this delicious, super smooth and proudly Philippine-made rum.

 

Live art mixed with fun conversation and great music made up what Don Papa Rum is all about.

 

Two years ago, moi had a taste of Don Papa at a dinner bash hosted by international interior designer Jonathan Matti and all the guests instantly agreed it was a winner, palanggas.

 

Visit www.donpaparum.com, www.facebook.com/DonPapaRum, and @donpaparum.

 

Concert for Elsie Gaches

 

Please calendar this event on Sept. 20. The super generous benefactors of the Elsie Gaches Village will stage a concert for the benefit of the 600 mentally challenged and abandoned children at the center.

 

The event, “Love, Music & Hope,” will see volunteers of Elsie Gaches Village—who are normally preoccupied with looking after the physical and spiritual welfare of the children—staging several upbeat song numbers to help raise funds for a livelihood training center, where the more trainable of the child-wards will be taught various skills to make them functional, productive members of the community.

 

Capping the concert to be held at Dusit Thani Hotel will be a performance by the one-of-a-kind Vernie Varga.

 

Grab your tickets, palanggas, through tel. 7369286.